Sand-box.



T. .L -MULLEN & T. F. BRENNAN.

' SAND Box.

APPLICATION FILED JABZH, 1909.

926,586. Patemaeaaune 29, 1909.

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T. J. MULLEN & T. P. BRENNAN.

y SAND Box. APPLICATION FILED JAN. B, 1909.

Patented June 29, 1909.

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SAND Box.

l APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1909. l 926,586. Patented June 29, 1909. 3BHEETSuSHEET 3. STK/.'

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UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. MULLEN AND THOMAS F. BRENNAN, OF NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK.

SAND-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 8, 1909.

Patented .Tune 29, 1909.

Serial No. 471,327.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. MULLEN and TnoMAs F. BRENNAN, citizensol' the United States, residing at New Brighton, in the county ofRichmond and State oll New York, have invented certain new and useiulImprovements in Sand-Boxes; and we do hereby declare the following to bea iull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to sand boxes, and especially to sand boxesemployed ior sanding rails oi'I street railways and the like, andattached to street cars or similar vehicles.

An object of the present invention is to construct a sand box oi'improved 'form embodying im roved features oi convenience, strength, reiability and positive action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sand box rigidlyconnected with the vehicle and having a slidable or swingingl gatemember connected with the flexible tubing adapted to conduct the sanddischarged from the box to the rail.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with astationary sand box a sliding or swinging gate member carrying anagitator disposed within the box adapted to agitate the sand to insureproper discharge.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with astationary sand box and a movable gate member of an improved connectionbetween such sand box and gate member.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter fully described and claimed. I

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a view of the improved sand box in verticallongitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a view oi' the sand box in sideelevation. Fig. 3 is a view oi' the sand box in end elevation asindicated by arrow 3 of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view oi' the sand boxin side elevation with the links disposed in a slightly differentrelation to the box and gate. Fig. 5 is a view of the sand box in endelevation showing the resilient member as on arrow 5 of Fig. 4.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The improved sand box forming the subject-matter ol' this applicationcomprises substantially a hopper-shaped receptacle 10 of any approved ordesired structure having its lower sides converging as at 1 1 producingan opening 12 in the underside oi' such receptacle.

Beneath the receptacle 10 a closure or opening 12 and slide 13 isdisposed having formed along its sides parallel ribs 14 which preventlateral movement oi' the slide relative to the hopper.

The hopper 10 is provided at the ends with ears 15 and upon the sideswith studs or spindles 16 which may be i'ormed integral therewith or maybe as rivets with the inner ends upset or as bolts with the inner endssecured by nuts or in any oi' the usual and well known manners.

Upon the ears 15 links 17 are pivoted extending downwardly and alsopivoted at their opposite ends to ears 1S in any approved manner as bybolts 19, similar pins or bolts 2() beinO' employed to pivot the linksto the ears 15 and any ordinary and conventional means as theCotter-pins 21 being employed upon both pins to maintain such pins inposition.

The sliding plate or gate 13 is provided with an opening 22 adapted attimes to reg ister with the opening 12 and to permit the discharge ofsand from the hopper 10 through such opening 22 and an agitator 23 iscarried rigidly by the plate extending upe wardly within the hopperadapted to agitato the material therein to insure proper and reliabledischarge from the opening 12 through the opening 22. The opening 22 iscontinued by a nipple upon which is secured a flexible hose or coupling24 of the usual and ordinary type employed for such purpose.

To maintain the gate or plate 13 in normal or closed position a spring25 is rigidly secured to the hopper member in any approved place and byany approved means as to the lange 26 by means of the bolt 27 and iscurved downwardly and provided with a slot 28 through which extends athreaded-bolt 29 having a hook 30 at one end engaging through arequisite opening in the plate 13 and with a tension nut 31 adapted tovary the tension of the spring 25 on the plate 13.

To operate the plate and to move it in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 1 to open position any approved and ordinary means may beemployed here shown as the lever 32 which would extend upwardly intoposition for engagement by the motorman or other operator and connectedin any approved manner as by a link 33 with the plate 13.

Instead of pivoting the links 17 to the ears 15 the links as 17/ are insome instances pivotally mounted upon the studs 16. The plate 13 is insuch instance also provided with studs 34 forming a pivotal bearing forthe lower ends of such links 17 and such links are held in position bycotter-pins 21 or in any approved manner.

It will be apparent that with the parts disposed as shown in Fig. 1, theescape of sand through the bottom opening 12 of the hopper isinterrupted by the position of the gate 18 which is held to suchposition by the tension of the spring 25. When, however, it is desirableto discharge sand from the hopper the lever 30 or equivalent means ismanipulated moving the plate 13 in the direction indicated by the arrowthereby moving the agitator 23 in the hopper to loosen the sandcontained therein and also simultaneously moving the nipple 22 toregister with the opening 12 whereby sand, by its own gravity, forcedthrough such nipple and through the pipe 24 is discharged as in theusual and ordinary manner. The release of the lever or equivalent meanspermits the spring 25 to close the plate 13 to the position shown atFig. 1, whereby the flow is again interrupted.

What we claim is 1. ln a device of the class described, a hopper, aplate movable relative' to the 3. ln a device of the class described, a

hopper, a plate movable relative to the hopper, links pivoted to thehopper, and to the plate, a spring secured to the hopper, ad-

justable means connecting the spring with the plate, and means to movethe plate against the tension of the spring.

4. ln a device of the class described, a receptacle provided with adischarge opening, a plate provided with a discharge opening movablerelative to the receptacle and adapted at times to have its openingregister with the opening of the receptacle, parallel links pivoted uponthe receptacle and also pivoted to the plate, means to normally hold theplate yieldingly out of register, and means to move the plate upon thepivots ofthe links to produce registration of the openings.

ln testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS J. MULLEN. THOMAS F. BRENNAN.

Vitnesses:

L. L. MORRILL, A. F. GILMORE.

